Company History

1980 – Thin Film Division is closed, all equipment, materials and filter stocks are transferred to International Research & Development Company Ltd (IRD) part of the Northern Engineering Industries group (NEI)

1988 – Nick Gilland (current NOC MD) joins IRD

1989 – Rolls Royce merges with NEI

1990 – Sole Distributor agreement signed with Laser Components GmbH for the territories of Germany, Austria and Switzerland

1992 – NEI name is dropped and IRD become a subsidiary of Rolls Royce Industrial Power Group

1994 – A fire erupts at IRD and approximately 50% of the building is destroyed. The Optical Filter department is back up and running within 6 weeks

1995 – Rolls Royce sells the Optical Filters department to the 4 employees that run it and the new company - Northumbria Optical Coatings Ltd (NOC) is formed. All plant, equipment, materials, stock and existing orders are transferred to a new 2,000sqft factory in Jarrow, Tyne & Wear

1997 – Bob Wilson, Managing Director retires due to ill health.

1997 – Distributor agreement signed with Electro Optical Components, Inc. (EOC) for the territory of North America

2003 – The company outgrows the Jarrow factory and relocates to a new building which is fitted with bespoke offices, inspection areas and production hall. The new 5,000sqft factory is located on the modern hi-tech Boldon Business Park, Boldon, Tyne & Wear

2006 – As part of the company’s vision and continuous improvement plan the company is accredited with ISO 9001 quality management system

2006 – Launch of new web site

2008 – Investment into new production and inspection equipment to improve manufacturing and testing capabilities